Day 20 - Wairakau Stream Track

Wednesday 11th January 2012

Woke to a decent morning and JB drove to Totara North where we left the car at the harbour and set off to walk the 5.6km Wairakau Stream Track.          Route map      





The sign showed the track would take two hours to complete. 

The first 40 minutes was a hard slog up hill through trees followed by a challenging well marked track.

In places it was muddy and narrow. Parts were very uneven with tree routes and rocks to navigate. The whole track was continually undulating and all combined we found it quite hard.

 After we reached this water hole the track became more interesting and picturesque.
 

Sandra working out the best way to cros the stream.



We had to take shoes and socks off to cross the Wairakau Stream twice. Normally in the Summer the water level is very low but after the recent high rainfall we waded in up to our knees. Well, certainly JB did.

Nothing to it when you have a stick to assist you.

After crossing the stream the walk was more pleasant with a level stretch revealing majestic rock formation.

We were cautious and took it steady and were really pleased we both had walking sticks.



The end is in sight as we spot the harbour.



Finally got to the end of the track at Lane Cove at 13.30 where we sat in a shelter and ate our sandwiches along with another couple (he was a police officer) and three children. Tom was 6, Kate 4 and Megan, who was carried by her Mother in a baby sack, was 16 months. They were really well behaved and we were astonished by their resilience along such a difficult trail.



Sandra happy to be aboard the water taxi.



Tony Foster, our pre booked water taxi, came for us at 14.00 and whizzed us back to Totara North for $20 each. We would have preferred a more leisurely boat ride, as the scenery was awesome, but the weather was deteriorating fast and when we got back it was raining and visibility was poor.



View from the water taxi on the fast trip back.

The best part of the walk was after crossing the stream, the first part was quite boring all in trees and not much outlook.
The whole walk from the Totara North harbour took us three hours and we estimated we had walked almost 5 miles. Quite a challenge but we did it and it only started to rain as we got back to Totara North where we had left the car.

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